Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
As requested by KokoroShigure511, I'll be covering Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony with the Super Mario 64 soundfont, starting with its first movement.
With this symphony, Felix Mendelssohn reportedly desired to represent the atmosphere of Italy, hence its nickname, "Italian Symphony".
This is apparent right from the start of this lively movement, a masterful take on the traditional sonata form structure (exposition, development, and recapitulation).
The main theme, played by the violins with a giddy woodwind accompaniment (0:01), is immediately unforgettable. While it might be hard to believe at first, we actually get an even more exciting rendition of this theme in almost no time (0:36).
The secondary theme (1:20), which stars the woodwinds almost exclusively, is charming and dance-like. The air becomes slightly colder for a moment (1:58), but the main theme returns (2:04) to carry the exposition to a joyous close.
Interestingly, Mendelssohn inserted here a sizable and unique transition towards the exposition's repeat. The woodwinds present some all-new material (2:20) before we get back to the beginning of the exposition and the main theme in its original form (2:37).
After we've gone through this repeat, the aforementioned transition is promptly cut and we go right into the development section (4:55). Most of it consists of a quite impressive minor-key fugue based on a completely new theme (2:07). In the middle of this contrapuntal display, the main theme finds a way to enter the affair (5:40). For a moment, it would seem that it will have completely prevailed over the new theme, but the latter defiantly gets a full statement shortly after (6:01).
The recapitulation sneaks up on us and begins almost before we realize it (6:57). As a varied reprise of the exposition, it begins with the main theme, but a different continuation (7:15) leads into the second theme sooner than expected (7:24), this time with the strings and woodwinds having swapped duties as singers and accompaniment.
Unexpectedly, the fugue theme from the development makes a reappearance (8:03). As it turns out, both it and the main theme will be ingeniously combined (8:24) to finish the recapitulation. After a satisfying climax (9:11), the unique transition music from the exposition returns (9:16), this time leading to the movement's exciting close. This feature means that there's really no excuse for conductors or orchestras to omit the exposition's repeat.
Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian", Op. 90
I. Allegro vivace
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Soundfont: Super Mario 64
Movement 2: youtube.com/watch?v=y11iaUSDE1g
Movement 3: youtube.com/watch?v=ZacMJ4oTu58
Movement 4: youtube.com/watch?v=R3p3Ow7KVpk
Majora's Mask version: youtube.com/watch?v=dOhNhd_UbJs
Pokémon HGSS version: youtube.com/watch?v=I_U06r7b9XI
As requested by KokoroShigure511, I'll be covering Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony with the Super Mario 64 soundfont, starting with its first movement.
With this symphony, Felix Mendelssohn reportedly desired to represent the atmosphere of Italy, hence its nickname, "Italian Symphony".
This is apparent right from the start of this lively movement, a masterful take on the traditional sonata form structure (exposition, development, and recapitulation).
The main theme, played by the violins with a giddy woodwind accompaniment (0:01), is immediately unforgettable. While it might be hard to believe at first, we actually get an even more exciting rendition of this theme in almost no time (0:36).
The secondary theme (1:20), which stars the woodwinds almost exclusively, is charming and dance-like. The air becomes slightly colder for a moment (1:58), but the main theme returns (2:04) to carry the exposition to a joyous close.
Interestingly, Mendelssohn inserted here a sizable and unique transition towards the exposition's repeat. The woodwinds present some all-new material (2:20) before we get back to the beginning of the exposition and the main theme in its original form (2:37).
After we've gone through this repeat, the aforementioned transition is promptly cut and we go right into the development section (4:55). Most of it consists of a quite impressive minor-key fugue based on a completely new theme (2:07). In the middle of this contrapuntal display, the main theme finds a way to enter the affair (5:40). For a moment, it would seem that it will have completely prevailed over the new theme, but the latter defiantly gets a full statement shortly after (6:01).
The recapitulation sneaks up on us and begins almost before we realize it (6:57). As a varied reprise of the exposition, it begins with the main theme, but a different continuation (7:15) leads into the second theme sooner than expected (7:24), this time with the strings and woodwinds having swapped duties as singers and accompaniment.
Unexpectedly, the fugue theme from the development makes a reappearance (8:03). As it turns out, both it and the main theme will be ingeniously combined (8:24) to finish the recapitulation. After a satisfying climax (9:11), the unique transition music from the exposition returns (9:16), this time leading to the movement's exciting close. This feature means that there's really no excuse for conductors or orchestras to omit the exposition's repeat.
Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian", Op. 90
I. Allegro vivace
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Soundfont: Super Mario 64
Movement 2: youtube.com/watch?v=y11iaUSDE1g
Movement 3: youtube.com/watch?v=ZacMJ4oTu58
Movement 4: youtube.com/watch?v=R3p3Ow7KVpk
Majora's Mask version: youtube.com/watch?v=dOhNhd_UbJs
Pokémon HGSS version: youtube.com/watch?v=I_U06r7b9XI
